Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
-srzorAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR.
U.Isbianron. I'm

ltUS4ifqtoH, ian. =
That human lite Is made up Of
startling contrasts i probably no.
where - often felt As Al the capital
of great nation. On the last day
of the old year, amid great pomp and
display of official mourning. all that
was mortal OF one OF the most prom
inent men in American public life.
was laid away in the tomb. The fol-
lowing day was the most brilliant one
Of the Washington social season, and
the gay world of fashion began its
round of festivities.
At the beginning of this New Year
it is more difficult than usual to let
1.-THE dead past bury its dead" Wis
ions of the future wilt mingle with
reflections of days that are gone
Death made an exceptional havoc
among leading men in 1886, as is
shown by the names of Hancock, Til
den. Mcclellan, Arthur, Hendricks
and Logan.
At the funeral of General Logan,
held in the senate chamber, were
present men and women representing
the highest and Iowliest people of the
country. OF his comrades in arms
Generals Sherman, Sheridan, and
0glesbee were prominent. with hun
dreds of others. soldiers of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Members
and ex-members of both houses of
congress. with whom he had served
many years, were there. among them
the notable figures of Roscoe Conk-
ling and William Evarts, while in
front of these sat the members of
tbs supreme court and the cabinet
officers. The chair provided for the
president was vacant. He was anx-
ious to be present, but the day was
exceedingly Indictment, and having
been confined TO the house for a week
previous with another rheumatic at
tack, his physician advised him not
to subject himself to the draughts of
air that are so prevalent in the Cap
itol building.
No great political measures have
been consummated during 1886 ex-
cept that which deals with the Indian
question, but others have been in
augurated, and it yet remains TO be
seen what shall become of protect
i've tariff, a development of civil SER
vice reform. But while the region
of practical politics has been COM
paratively barren, movements are on
foot which are rapidly forming opin-
ION in one direction or the other for
serious legislation in the future.
There are, as yet, no coast defens-
es, and no navy. And will there ever
be, and have We any real need for Ell
Their? That is the question. Is it
not possible that the principles of
Henry George, which have taken root
in some quarters, and which will have
TO be reckoned within any thorough |
scheme of social re adjustment, will |
also have a hearing upon the naval |
n"4otinnS II ~ - -4tnoFlcan he |
public has no more need for its bur- |
lesque OF navy than a peaceable gi-
ant would have for a stuffed club or /
a tin sword. 1t is only maintained |
for the sake of the officers and the |
naval rings. In peace it is only a
source of expense and corruption |
in war il wonld be useless. We are
too strong for any foreign power to
wantOnIy attack, We ought to be too |
great to wantonly attack others. If
war should ever be forced upon US,
We could safely rely on science and
invention, which are already super
sediDg naVies faster than they can be
built. So with our army. All we
need. if we even now need that, is
small force of frontier policemen
such as is maintained in Canada and
Standing navies and
armies are inimical to the genius of
democracy and it ought to be our
pride as it is our duty, to show the
world that a great republic can dis
pense with both; and in organization
as IN principle both our army and
navy ale repugnant to the democrat
&c idea. In both we maintain that
distinction between commissioned Of
icers and common soldiers and sail
ors which arose in Europe when the
nobility who furnished the one were
considered a superior race to the
'erfs and peasants who supplied the
'ther. The whole system is an in
suit to democracy, and ought to be
swept away. Our diplomatic system.
90, is seryileIy copied from the usage
IF kings before the ocean steamer /
md the telegraph were invented. 1t
serves no purpose save to reward
politicians and occasionally to demon
Ilize poet. To abolish it would
save expense, corruption and nation
Il dignity.
WHAT THE LIQUoR DEALERS WANT.
The law an utter failure? Ask the
lquor sellers themselves. They, al
most TO q man, want such laws re-
,ealed. Witness the recent brewers
congress, in which high license in
lead Of prohibition was advocated
: far more conducive to their inter-
SIS (and their interests are IN the
me Of increased saIes). Witness